Media Release: Five babies for meerkat mummy

ST Andrews Aquarium is this week celebrating the news that meerkat mummy, Kate, has just given birth to five babies.

St Andrews Aquarium is this week celebrating the news that Meerkat Mummy, Kate, has just given birth to 5 babies.

Following the sad loss of Oliver Twist last week, who had to be hand reared by Aquarium staff when he was rejected by his mother, this latest news has been warmly welcomed by the Aquarium team members who are delighted that both mother and babies are all doing well.

This is Kate’s second litter of five babies since she arrived at the Aquarium in February 2011, marking her fifth pregnancy and her sixteenth meer-kitten born in the historic town of St Andrews.

Andrew Whiston, displays manager at St Andrews Aquarium, commented “Kate is clearly happy in her new home and the proof is evident: we’ve gone from having just 3 meerkats to a total of 15 meerkats in just over 12 months.”

The rapid growth in meerkat population has left St Andrews Aquarium bosses with the ongoing challenge of what to call their latest pack members. Taking to their Facebook page this week to ask the public for their help, ideas started to pour in, drawn mainly from popular music with suggestions including One Direction to the Jackson Five.

There was one suggestion which caught the attention of everyone at the Aquarium, which was offered up by facebook user Lynsey Thomson: Directline, Aviva, Churchill, Admiral and Sheila’s Wheels.

Andrew commented, “The final suggestion had the team in fits of laughter – so we’ve duly named the latest additions to the family after some of the UK’s leading insurance companies. It truly is ComparetheMeerkat.com.”

For more information on St Andrews Aquarium and to sign up to feed the meerkats please visit www.standrewsaquarium.co.uk

Following the sad loss of Oliver Twist last week, who had to be hand reared by Aquarium staff when he was rejected by his mother, this latest news has been warmly welcomed by the Aquarium team members who are delighted that both mother and babies are all doing well.

This is Kate’s second litter of five babies since she arrived at the Aquarium in February 2011, marking her fifth pregnancy and her 16th meer-kitten born in the historic town of St Andrews.

Andrew Whiston, displays manager at St Andrews Aquarium, commented: “Kate is clearly happy in her new home and the proof is evident: we’ve gone from having just three meerkats to a total of 15 meerkats in just over 12 months.”

The rapid growth in meerkat population has left St Andrews Aquarium bosses with the ongoing challenge of what to call their latest pack members.

Taking to their Facebook page this week, to ask the public for their help, ideas started to pour in, drawn mainly from popular music.

Andrew commented: “The final suggestion had the team in fits of laughter – so we’ve duly named the latest additions to the family after some of the UK’s leading insurance companies. It truly is ComparetheMeerkat.com.”

For more information on St Andrews Aquarium and to sign up to feed the meerkats please visit www.standrewsaquarium.co.uk